Discern Daily

Ep. 27 - God's Sovereignty Is Our Security

Is anything burdening you? What tends to stress you out or cause you to worry? When it comes to spiritual matters involving our relationship with God, it's common to lose our sense of security in Christ at times. But God is our true confidence and security! On this episode, we are highlighting a blog post by Pastor Gabe Hughes, titled, "Predestined By God." Engage the content with us and let's seek the truth together.

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Quotes From Gabe Hughes

"When you first became a Christian, you had a very elementary understanding of your sin against God and the work that He had done to redeem you—that Jesus Christ had died on the cross and risen from the grave, and that by faith in Him, you have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. As far as you were concerned, you decided to follow Jesus. But as you grew to understand God's word, your perspective has likely changed."

“From the word of God, you come to find that you had nothing to do with your salvation at all. You were a wretched sinner enslaved to sin, incapable of doing anything pleasing to God. You came to faith not because you did anything good but because God is good. You believe not according to the purpose of your will but according to the purpose of Him who wills it.”

[Five reasons why this topic is important for us to pursue together]

“First, so your prayers would not be hindered.

Second, so you would be relieved of your burdens.

Third, so you will be more considerate of others.

Fourth, so you would understand your sin rightly.

Fifth, so you may worship God appropriately.”

“If you believe that your salvation is dependent upon a choice you've had to make or it's dependent upon your continued choices to maintain it, then you are being weighed down by an unnecessary burden. I hope you see from the Scriptures that salvation—including faith and belief, even repentance itself—is not the work of man. Salvation is from beginning to end the gracious work of God.”

Episode Highlights

Everyone should follow Gabe on social media. He's a great guy and faithful leader.

Does anything tend to take away your sense of security or cause you to worry? When it comes to spiritual matters, have you ever doubted God or wondered about not getting into heaven? The best news ever is that our salvation is completely in God's hands, not ours.

The big picture of “God's sovereignty" is that God is totally in control. For real.

We read through Galatians 3:2-14 together to provide additional encouragement for listeners. Our security in God’s sovereignty is still through faith. God’s promise to Abraham reaches Gentile believers who “receive the promised Spirit through faith” (v. 14).

When you heard the good news of Jesus Christ and believed in him, you received the Holy Spirit. We don't earn the Spirit by obeying a law, but receive the Spirit through faith as a gift from God.

It's by grace you have been saved through faith, and it's by grace you will stay saved through faith.

Share Your Thoughts

What stood out to you on this episode? What did you think of Gabe's blog post? We’d love to hear what God is speaking to you. If you found this content useful, share about it on social media!

Ep. 26 - Loving Your Neighbor Through Politics

Another season of political discussions is here with the help of the 2020 Democratic primaries. Many Christians stay far away from politics in America; however, politics may be a useful means to bring God's Kingdom to earth. David Closson composed an excellent article for ERLC, titled, "4 Reasons Christians Should Care About Politics," and it's worth unpacking together.

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Quotes From David Closson

"The gospel is a holistic message with implications for all areas of life, including how Christians engage the political process."

"Here are four reasons Christians should care about politics...

The Christian worldview speaks to all areas of life.

Politics are unavoidable.

We need to love our neighbor.

Government restrains evil and promotes good."

[Under #3's section] "In a very real sense, politics is one of the most important areas in which Christians demonstrate love to neighbor. In fact, how can Christians claim to care about others and not engage the arena that most profoundly shapes basic rights and freedoms? Caring for the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and lonely is important to Jesus and should be to His followers as well. Jesus said, 'As you did it to one of the least of these you did it to me' (Matthew 25:40)."

"Good government can serve as a conduit for the furthering of the gospel and human flourishing."

"Christian withdrawal opens a moral vacuum susceptible to influences that pressure government to move outside the purview designated by God."

Episode Highlights

The following episode was sparked from lengthy conversations on Twitter about whether or not Christians should participate in voting for presidential candidates.

Some refuse to vote because the candidates are not exemplary Christian examples. What's wrong with voting for the best candidate with the most biblical policies and beliefs?

If Christians stay completely out of politics, the government loses its biblical influence and godly direction. We must not sit on the sidelines. We must get involved somehow.

Christians should both pray and vote. We must vote in order to demonstrate our beliefs, and we must pray in order to receive help and guidance from God.

Here's the big question: How are you involved in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth? For some, it’s by getting involved in politics. 

Share Your Thoughts

Did you find David's article for ERLC helpful? Do you believe Christians should get involved in political matters, such as voting for the next president? Leave a comment below and share this episode on social media.

Are Christians Allowed to Be Financially Rich?

The Bible says a lot about money, but it's difficult for people to give their finances over to God. Christians today should have a proper understanding of how to handle money and worship God with it. Bible Gateway published a helpful post, titled, "What Does the Bible Say about Wealth and Prosperity?," adapted from a book by Costi W. Hinn. Let's walk through the post together and seek the truth.

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Quotes From Costi W. Hinn

“Is God opposed to a Christian making a high salary? What’s wrong with an employer rewarding an employee for doing his job? Should Christians take a vow of poverty and purposely try to suffer? Is poverty God’s will for us?"

“Bragging about not buying shoes (when you can) or using a verse about rich people not getting into heaven to excuse yourself from being a steward is no better than a prosperity preacher living on the other side of the spectrum."

“Probably the most important stewardship principle to remember is this: God owns everything. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10); he owns everything under heaven, for that matter (Job 41:11). The psalmist declares, 'The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it' (Ps. 24:1). There is no arguing with the Bible on who owns everything. God does."

"Even though wealth is not guaranteed on earth, God does give the opportunity to gain wealth. You may say, 'Nobody gave me wealth—I earned it!' The children of Israel thought the same thing, but Moses reminded them that it was God who was blessing them based solely on his sovereign will. Deuteronomy 8:17–18 says, 'You may say in your heart, "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth." But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.' If God has blessed you with wealth, you ought to humbly thank him and realize that you have a great responsibility. Speaking to the rich, John writes, 'But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth' (1 John 3:17–18)."

“Sure, it’s biblical and prudent to leave an inheritance for your children (Prov. 13:22), and it’s good to work hard and save for the future (Prov. 6:6). But you know what the greatest purpose of wealth is? To advance the gospel and do God’s will!”

Episode Highlights

There's a spectrum to acknowledge — some Christians believe in a prosperity gospel, and some believe in a poverty gospel. They both fall off track.

What the Bible says about money is not for richer Christians only. Every Christian must faithfully steward the finances that God provides for them.

God is Lord over all creation. He owns what we have. What we have came from him. If our wealth grew from our hard work, God still deserves the glory because he gave us the ability to work.

Money is a resource we should use to promote change and increase gospel works. Far too often, we just use money to comfort ourselves.

Having money isn’t sinful; loving money is. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Share Your Thoughts

Did you find the post from Bible Gateway helpful? What kind of challenges do you face regarding finances and faith? How has the gospel message impacted your finances? Do you think it is sinful for Christians to be wealthy? If you found this episode useful, share about it on social media. 

Ep. 24 - The Core of the Saving Gospel

Our discussion today centered around a tweet sent by Mark Dever. The Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church wrote, "I recently heard someone say 'The core of the Gospel is God's commitment to protect the vulnerable.' What do you think?" What is at the core of the gospel message? What exactly is meant by the term vulnerable? Watch the episode and let's seek the truth together.

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Tweets Mentioned in the Video

[embed]https://twitter.com/MarkDever/status/1139009311173201920[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/ExFideHarde/status/1139162743737638913[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/SlowToWrite/status/1139161199441055744[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/dennisdjackson/status/1139254923915403264[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/ToddPruitt6/status/1139158747555782656[/embed]

Episode Highlights

We've got new music for the show! Did you like it?

What the original tweet communicated to me was an underlying question as to whether or not we are victims or sinners — did something happen to us or did we cause something to happen?

The core of the gospel is not that we are victims; it's that we are sinners, and Christ died to reconcile elect sinners to himself.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11)

Why does it matter to clarify that we are sinners? It reveals God's love in a greater light. Which person is harder to love: someone who has been wronged or the wrongdoer? We have done wrong and God made a way to not only forgive us, but also make us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.

Share Your Thoughts

What stood out to you in Mark Dever's original tweet? What important truths do you see at the core of the gospel message? Which Bible verses come to your mind on this subject? Leave a comment below and share this episode on social media.

Ep. 23 - Helpful Thoughts on Prayer

On this episode, we walked through three sections of a great post found on Focus on the Family, titled, "Seeking God in Prayer." If you're new to praying, this episode will give you a great starting point. If you know someone who is new to praying, this can be a beneficial resource to share with them. If you're already a prayer warrior, you'll find great reminders here.

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Quotes Via Focus On The Family

"Praise: We're to enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise (see Psalm 100:4). Sit quietly and thank God for who He is and what He has done."

"Repent: A sober reminder comes from Psalm 66:18: 'If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.' A spiritual cleansing is needed in order to come nearer to the throne of God."

"Access: We're not telling God anything new — 'All my longings lie open before you, O Lord: my sighing is not hidden from you' (Psalm 38:9). Even so, He gives us access to talk to Him about our needs and frustrations."

"Yield: The fact that we have brought our prayer list before God indicates our trust that He will, in His time and in His way, show us the way we should go (see Psalm 143:8)."

"Kneeling shows God that you are entering into His presence or asking Him for something."

"Standing shows God that you are ready for 'marching orders.'"

"Walking shows God that you are 'on the move' for Him, ready for His battle plans."

"Bowing shows God that you honor Him and feel humble because of who He is."

"Prostrate, lying flat on your face or back, shows God that you are in awe of Him and are desperate and hungry for Him to come and be with you."

"Uplifted hands show God that you are reaching toward Him — in praise or asking for something with arms open to receive it."

"There may be an actual closet that you can make your own, a space that's now packed with boxes of old photos, blankets and craft supplies. Soon all the boxes and cartons will find new homes. Before long you will begin to feel God's pleasure at having made Him a sole priority in this area of my home."

Episode Highlights

We must not see prayer as just a spiritual discipline — it's so good for us.

Even though we understand that God is all-knowing, and his will will be done, we still need to ask God for things.

The Bible does not teach that we must enter a physical posture in order for God to hear our prayers. However, we must worship in spirit and truth. It's beneficial to engage our entire being in prayer.

Prayer can take place anywhere, anytime, but it's holy and fruitful to designate specific places to pray routinely and intentionally.

Share Your Thoughts

Did you find the post, "Seeking God in Prayer," from Focus on the Family beneficial? What are some challenges you face in praying consistently? What advice would you give to others on prayer? Leave a comment below and share this episode on social media.

Ep. 22 - What Happened to Convincing One Another?

In order to move forward together, we need to create a healthier environment for dialogue. We shouldn't retreat to those who agree with us and shame those who disagree. We should seek to convince and persuade everyone. Blake Long composed a new article on his blog — Theology & Life — titled, "The New Intolerance," where he explains how the Left is redefining intolerance and how Christians ought to respond.

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Quotes From Blake Long

"The big ideological elephant in the room is that the word intolerance has been, as a whole, redefined by the Left. They have taken that word and redefined it as acceptance or approval. If you don’t approve—no, even celebrate!—their views, then you are an intolerant bigot."

Episode Highlights

What happened to convincing one another to believe what we believe? When did it become a bad thing to think for ourselves and want to persuade others in the truth?

Miley Cyrus recently provided a great example how to fail at convincing others when she licked a cake that included the words, "Abortion is Healthcare."

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How hard should we try selling truth to others? How far should we go in trying to convince others what to believe?

Shaming others into accepting new beliefs is not the way God leads us to communicate. Acts 17:1-9 is one relevant passage that reveals the Apostle Paul reasoning with non-believers.

We must learn how to ask better questions, and we need to give others better feedback about what's not very convincing to us.

Share Your Thoughts

What are your thoughts on the matter? Have you seen the Left try to redefine intolerance, as Blake proposes in his article? How hard should we strive to reason with others from the Scriptures? Share this episode and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Ep. 21 - Humbly Examine Your Calling

A discussion about God's "calling" can provide beneficial guidance for us as we seek to follow Christ. Many look to pillars of the faith, such as the Apostle Paul, and wonder when their own special calling from God is going to come. Is Paul's calling experience the standard? Greg Handley composed an article for IMB, titled, "Let’s Rethink Our Language of ‘Calling'," where he provides wise counsel about God's calling. 

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Quotes From Greg Handley

“Paul refers to a unique sense of call as an apostle of the Lord Jesus (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1). The error in application I’m referring to happens when we make his experience the necessary requirement for anyone serving as a pastor or missionary. Paul’s language points in the other direction. He refrains from applying his 'calling' vocabulary to other co-laborers in the New Testament (Col.1:1; 1 Cor.1:1; 2 Cor.1:1)."

"Here are four ways to think about calling that can help us pave a more helpful way forward...

Commanded before Called

...Obedience to him doesn’t wait for some additional revelation of his will. It gets to work. All Christians have been drafted. We either go or we send...

Objective before Subjective

...In Romans 1:15–17, Paul outlined what generated his eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome. What compelled him wasn’t the memory of his Damascus Road experience. His eagerness stemmed from the power of the gospel to save sinners...

Desire before Destiny

...Desire opens up a discussion and calling pulls the divine trump card, functionally closing the conversation. For the quality of our labor, we need to open ourselves to others’ feedback before we’re sent out...

Corporately Affirmed before Privately Called

...The good desire to serve as an elder must be coupled with an identifiable blamelessness in the differing spheres of life in order for one to serve. These qualifications must be met by the individual and affirmed by the congregation..."

Episode Highlights

We read through Galatians 1:11-24, where the Apostle Paul tells of his calling from God to preach the Good News, and we noted a few things.

No one should disregard the general call to follow Christ, according to the Word of God, as they wait, expecting to receive a special calling from God.

One characteristic lacking today is humility. Many buy into the message that they've been called to be an individual world changer. Therefore, they perceive a special calling from God, and begin to seek out ways to be empowered as they follow their special, perceived calling. However, we are not that special. It's not about us; it's about Jesus and his glory.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Share Your Thoughts

How do you properly inspect or examine a calling? Have you wrestled with this before? What stood out to you in Greg Handley's article for IMB? Did anything resonate with you? If so, share about it on social media.

Ep. 20 - Seeking Truth in a 'Post-Truth' Culture

The culture and Christ seem to collide often. Many today operate with a postmodern mindset. Do we get to determine what truth is? Can something be true for me, yet false for others? Owen Strachan wrote an article for Reformanda Ministries, titled, "Why So Sensitive? Ministry in a Post-Truth Culture," and it provides much insight regarding a "post-truth" culture. Let's take a look and seek the truth together. 

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Quotes From Owen Strachan

“By this formulation people commonly mean that life in a ‘postmodern’ age means that we steer clear of absolutes in our thinking and our speech. We don’t speak of what is true for all peoples at all places in all times; we speak of what is true for me.”

“To embrace a ‘post-truth’ perspective means that one has effectively evacuated the Word and the gospel of any timeless, once-for-all authority.”

"Let me suggest six ways a secularistic post-truth mindset might filter into our lives and ministries...

First, we excessively qualify even basic statements...

Second, we downplay actions and emphasize feelings...

Third, we move away from apologies, clouding them with qualifiers...

Fourth, we negotiate instead of drawing clear lines...

Fifth, we lead only with great hesitancy and fearfulness...

Sixth, we see doubt as true and truth as doubtful."

“This is really the age of the antagonist, isn’t it? A post-truth culture supports the rise of the perpetual naysayer, the endless nuance-proclaimer, the inveterate bone-picker. Many of us have experienced this phenomenon on Twitter, where even basic statements are picked over like bone-in filets dropped into piranha tanks. This tendency has bled over into contemporary conversation. We excessively qualify ourselves in our discussions, our brains churning like those of $400-per-hour lawyers as we try to stay a step ahead of our interlocutors, furiously trying to recognize loopholes and weaknesses in our verbiage.”

"When you say one declarative sentence—'The Bible is true'—but then feel the need to say eleven consecutive sentences about what your first sentence does not mean, you are a post-truth communicator. You may not know it, and you certainly may not intend to be, but the point stands: a post-truth culture is influencing your speech (and thinking) in a major way."

“Let the world be post-truth. The church of Christ must know, love, live by, proclaim, and lead according to the truth. This truth—God’s own truth—is not conditioned by any prefix; it is firmly fixed in the heavens, and stands forever according to the counsel of God."

Episode Highlights

I recently tweeted on my personal page about wanting to find more users that boldly preach Christ without tweeting about what Christ is not. Shortly after, I came across Owen's article, which touched on exactly what I've been wanting to communicate.

[embed]https://twitter.com/paytej/status/1123908788644401152[/embed]

We must be ready to defend our beliefs; however, we should not spend a lot of time and energy talking a lot about what Christianity is not. This kind of communication is everywhere.

Many believe they get to determine what is true for them. Christians, on the other hand, recognize that God is the one who determines truth and we follow what God says. Furthermore, God's truth is timeless and applicable for anyone, anytime. The post-truth perspective is not timeless.

In a form of judgment, God allows some to determine their own truth, and gives them over to a debased mind (cf. Romans 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 2:11). We must repent and trust that God knows exactly what he is talking about. His ways are right, true, pure, and trustworthy.

Share Your Thoughts

So what do we do about our post-truth culture? How do we make a fruitful impact in our communication and message on social media? What stands out to you in Owen's article for Reformanda Ministries? Leave a comment below and share this episode on social media if anything spoke to you.

Ep. 19 - The Whole Trinity Saves

Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone is not a work accomplished by the Son of God alone — the entire Trinity is involved in every salvation. On this episode, we are learning from an article by Ryan McGraw, published on Tabletalk magazine, titled, "For Whom Did Christ Die?" Let's seek the truth together.

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Quotes By Ryan McGraw

“I came to Christ by understanding that God counted our sin to His Son in order to count His incarnate Son’s righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:21). As soon as someone pointed out that all people must be saved if Christ did these things for all people, I was sold on limited atonement."

"We can best understand the fact that Christ came to save His people, and them only, from their sins (Matt. 1:21) by rooting Christ’s death in the saving work of the whole Trinity, and by answering two common questions."

"Why, then, do some passages of Scripture seem to universalize Christ’s death (e.g., 1 John 2:2)?"

"Does limited atonement limit the gospel offer to the elect only?"

“The united work of the Trinity shows clearly why Christ died for the elect only. The Father chose believers in Christ before time began (Eph. 1:4–5). The Holy Spirit is the Father’s seal of ownership on the elect (vv. 13–14). No one receives the things of God or confesses that Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10–16; 12:3). The Father calls His elect to Christ by His Word and Spirit (2 Cor. 3:16–18; James 1:18). The Trinity is undivided and indivisible. Christ’s death extends as far as the Father’s electing purpose (Acts 2:23) and the Spirit’s effecting power (13:48)."

“It is not that the Father chose some and the Spirit changes some while Christ died for all. The Father saves by particular election, the Son by particular redemption, and the Spirit by particular calling."

“God is triune, and the atonement is a unified Trinitarian act in purpose, production, and perfection.”

Episode Highlights

A true salvation is a work accomplished by the entire Trinity, not just Jesus Christ.

Someone has to pay for the consequences of our sin. The payment is needed once — either Christ pays the debt for our sin or we pay the debt.

Limited atonement is a doctrine worth studying, related to our discussion. To better understand what limited atonement is all about, you can view a great resource by R.C. Sproul, for Ligonier, here.

There's great encouragement to be found in learning about the work of the entire Trinity in our salvation. The Father chooses us, the Son dies for us, and the Spirit fills and empowers us.

Share Your Thoughts

Follow @DiscernDaily on Twitter and share this episode on social media. What are your convictions on limited atonement? How does it change things for you knowing the entire Trinity, not just the Son, is involved in your life?

Ep. 18 - Are All Public Schools Bad?

The trajectory of the public school system has many Christians worried. It seems homeschooling is the best option for many families that want to train up their children to follow Christ. On this episode, we are taking a look at an article, titled, "Burn All the Schools," by Douglas Wilson. This topic is certainly worth discussing. Let's seek the truth together. 

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Quotes From Douglas Wilson

"H.L. Mencken once suggested a shrewd educational reform that has somehow not caught on. He said that there was nothing wrong with our current education establishment that could not be fixed by burning all the schools, and hanging all the teachers. Now some might want to dismiss this as an extreme measure, but visionaries are often dismissed in their own day."

"Millions of evangelicals still have their children in the government school system. Get them out now. Having Christian children in the government school system is what theologians of another era would have called sinnity-sin-sin."

"In order for all Christians to get their kids out of the maw of this government school system, what would it take precisely?"

"What it would take in 2018 is a very different question than what it will take twenty years from now, in 2038… Things that pass without comment today would have caused riots forty years ago. And that which would cause riots today is what you are prepping your great-grandchildren to eventually put up with, provided they learn your evasions."

"Government schools are institutions controlled by the fatherless, staffed by the fatherless, with curriculum written by the fatherless, and attended by evangelical children who are functionally fatherless."

Episode Highlights

Whether or not Christians should place their children in the public school system is certainly worth debating. How should we view all public schools today, and what should we do with them?

Children are being molded by the school systems they're in. Children are moldable, and they need molded by trustworthy leaders. Parents should be the primary molders and teachers.

Some parents have to work. Homeschooling is not an option for every family. What should these families do about troubling public school systems since they cannot homeschool?

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

Let's Seek The Truth

What are your convictions on the matter? What kind of changes are you seeing in the public schools in your neighborhood? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Share this episode on your social media. Let's seek the truth together.